De Havilland plans Fort Erie growth in water bomber expansion
November 15, 2026 at 3:45 AM
De Havilland Canada plans to hire more workers and expand production capacity at its Fort Erie plant as part of a major increase in Canadair 515 water bomber production.
According to De Havilland Canada, the company has reached an agreement with the federal government and Export Development Canada for up to $2.5 billion in financing to increase production of the firefighting aircraft.
The company says the money will support new hiring and additional production capacity at facilities in Fort Erie, Kitchener, Toronto, Calgary and Victoria.
De Havilland has not said how much of the financing will be invested in Fort Erie or how many jobs will be created locally.
Credit: De Havilland Canada | FacebookAdditional aircraft production slots are expected to become available beginning in 2030, with De Havilland ultimately planning to double its current Canadair 515 production capacity.
The Fort Erie operation is the former Fleet Canada plant at 1011 Gilmore Road, which De Havilland acquired in April 2025.
Fort Erie Radio previously reported the 500,000-square-foot facility was already producing parts for the Canadair 515, Twin Otter and Dash 8 programs when the acquisition was completed.
The acquisition also brought Fleet’s metal-to-metal bonding and advanced composite manufacturing capabilities in-house at De Havilland.
At the time, De Havilland said it expected to add machinery and employees at the Fort Erie plant as demand increased, particularly for the Canadair 515.
The Canadair 515 is a purpose-built amphibious firefighting aircraft designed to scoop water from lakes and other bodies of water and drop it on wildfires.
The latest expansion follows signs of continued growth at the Gilmore Road operation.
Fort Erie Radio reported in August that town officials promoted De Havilland’s locally produced water bombers during meetings with the provincial government at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference. Mayor Wayne Redekop said at the time both De Havilland and Airbus were hiring and planning to expand their Fort Erie operations.
The federal government’s 2026 budget also includes up to $2.5 billion in financing through Export Development Canada to increase De Havilland’s water bomber production.
De Havilland says it will also work with suppliers to speed up delivery of components needed for the additional aircraft.
The financing transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2027.
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About the Author
Brent Jones
Program director, lead editor, and host, Fort Erie Radio; Realtor, eXp Realty; family man; lives in Ridgeway; proud to call the Town of Fort Erie home.
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